Using the data of the latest-released aerosol optical thickness (AOD) (Collection 6) as derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra spacecraft, the Final Operational Global Analysis data (NCEP FNL) from National Centers for Environmental Prediction, Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP), CERES syn1deg Ed4monthly average data, NCEP/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) reanalysis data from March 2000 to February 2017, we have investigated the features of variations of graded AOD and their related circulation anomalies. As per the interannual variations of AOD averaged over the eastern part of China, the AOD is divided into 5 different levels, which corresponds to 5pollution grades. The results show that the anomalies of AOD in East China are larger when the surface wind speed is weaker together with the unfavorable aerosol diffusion condition of the anomalous monsoon circulation in the middle and high troposphere. When the aerosol pollution is strongest (weakest), variations of AOD is strongly related to the variations of the solar radiation at the earth surface, surface temperature, wind speed, and precipitation. At other AOD levels, the air pollution is significantly related to the surface solar radiation rather than other variables. When the air pollution is severe, the solar radiation at the earth surface is relatively lower, along with the lower surface temperature. The atmosphere in lower troposphere is cooling, and the wind speed is weakening. Meanwhile, the more precipitation occurs in the southern and less in the northern part of the eastern China. On the other hand, when the air pollution is very light, the solar radiation that reaches the earth surface will increase, and the surface air temperature gets higher. At this time, the surface wind will get stronger, and less precipitation will be received in the southern and more in the northern part of East China.